Palamidi Castle
The Venetian fortress of Nafplio, built on a hill 216 metres high and known for the 999 steps of its ascent.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Palamidi is considered the best-preserved fortress from the period of Venetian rule in Greece. It was built within a few years and completed in 1714 to serve the strategic needs of the Venetians, on the summit of a hill 216 metres high east of Akronafplia. Its name refers to Palamedes, the Homeric hero from Nafplio who took part in the Trojan War.
The fortress is based on a system of bastions that protected one another; if one fell, the others continued to defend. Nevertheless, it passed to the Ottomans in 1715, when one of the two engineers who had designed it, who knew its weak points, collaborated with the enemy. After its liberation from the Turks, it served as a prison.
According to tradition, in 1834 Theodoros Kolokotronis was held here together with Dimitrios Plapoutas. More recent studies place him in the Miltiades Bastion, one of the eight bastions of the fortress, each of which bears its own name. From the western side, towards the Arvanitia beach, the ascent is made by the well-known 999 steps.
Highlights
- The ascent with the 999 steps from the Arvanitia side
- Eight bastions that protect one another
- The prison where Kolokotronis was held, according to tradition
- View of Nafplio and the Argolic Gulf from a hill 216 metres high
- Operated by
- Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού – Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Αργολίδας
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €20 |
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| Reduced | €10Citizens of the European Union over 65 years of age from 1 October to 31 May, on presentation of ID card or passport; accompanying parents and teachers on school educational visits, and other categories defined by the Ministry of Culture. |
Free admission: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October and the first and third Sunday of every month from 1 November to 31 March.
Free admission and reduced tickets are available to certain categories of visitors, in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Culture.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
On foot: about 1 hour from Plateia Syntagmatos in the centre of Nafplio. By car: about 10 minutes from the historic centre.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
Café/restaurant, toilets and a car park on site.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | The entrance to the fortress is at the top of the hill; the climb by the steps takes about one hour from the centre of Nafplio. |
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